Netanyahu arrives in Gaza to approve operation to capture the city

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he has arrived in the Gaza Strip to approve a military operation aimed at capturing Gaza City and crushing Hamas, RIA Novosti reports.

“We are at the stage of making decisions. Today I came to the Gaza Strip to approve the Israel Defense Forces’ plans, presented to me and the defense minister, to capture Gaza City and crush Hamas,” Netanyahu said in a statement.

He added that he has also instructed officials to immediately begin negotiations on the release of all hostages and on ending the war under conditions acceptable to Israel.